nutrients minerals children protein

Malnutrition is the condition that develops when the body does not get the right amount of the vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients it needs to maintain healthy tissues and organ function.

Malnutrition occurs in people who are either under-nourished or over-nourished. Undernutrition is a consequence of consuming too few essential nutrients or using or excreting them more rapidly than they can be replaced.

Infants, young children, and teenagers need additional nutrients. So do women who are pregnant or breast-feeding. Nutrient loss can be accelerated by diarrhea, excessive sweating, heavy bleeding (hemorrhage), or kidney failure. Nutrient intake can be restricted by age-related illnesses and conditions, excessive dieting, severe injury, serious illness, a lengthy hospitalization, or substance abuse.

The leading cause of death in children in developing countries is protein-energy malnutrition. This type of malnutrition is the result of inadequate intake of calories from proteins, vitamins, and minerals. Children who are already undernourished can suffer from protein-energy malnutrition when rapid growth, infection, or disease increases the need for protein and essential minerals.

Additional Topics

Poverty and lack of food are the primary reasons why malnutrition occurs in the United States. Ten percent of all members of low income households do not always have enough healthful food to eat, and malnutrition affects one in four elderly Americans. Protein-energy malnutrition occurs in 50% of surgical patients and in 48% of all other hospital patients. There is an increased risk of malnutrition…

Normalizing nutritional status starts with a nutritional assessment. This process enables a clinical nutritionist or registered dietician to confirm the presence of malnutrition, assess the effects of the disorder, and formulate diets that will restore adequate nutrition. Patients who cannot or will not eat, or who are unable to absorb nutrients taken by mouth, may be fed intravenously (parenteral…

Breast-feeding a baby for at least six months is considered the best way to prevent early-childhood malnutrition. The United States Department of Agriculture and Health and Human Services recommend that all Americans over the age of two: Every patient admitted to a hospital should be screened for the presence of illnesses and conditions that could lead to protein-energy malnutrition. Patients with…

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User Comments

As you must know I am reading this for a assignment at school. I understand that malnutrition is both, under nutrition and over nutrition. It is the lack of, or too much of needed essential componants for your body.

But I did look up about Over Nutrition, so I was just wondering if maybe you guys could put a bit more about over nutrition in this report, maybe a little bit about how over nutrition affects affluent countries and there typical diet. Much thanks.

over 3 years ago

wattupp

almost 4 years ago

Leira Jane

Hello.

As you must know I am reading this for a assignment at school. I understand that malnutrition is both, under nutrition and over nutrition. It is the lack of, or too much of needed essential componants for your body.

But I did look up about Over Nutrition, so I was just wondering if maybe you guys could put a bit more about over nutrition in this report, maybe a little bit about how over nutrition affects affluent countries and there typical diet. Much thanks.